How to Set Up Your Google My Business For Success 2021
SET UP YOUR GOOGLE MY BUSINESS FOR SUCCESS
Make these tasks a priority to set up your Google My Business for success. They will make a huge difference in Search Engine Optimization (being found) and engagement (knowing). In other words, these tasks will help you get more business.
Image Matters
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” and this is very true when it comes to the success of your business. Images improve any Google search results by 28%.
Be picky about the images you place on a page. Remember, you want to put your best foot forward. Take pictures of your business location and building, both inside and outside. Add pictures of your products and services. Don't put images online of your customers or clients or anyone else without permission.
Do take as many pictures as you can. Creating an open policy of encouraging customers and clients to add their own, is also a positive.
Here are a few tips for images and increasing your Google My Business rankings online.
- Format counts.
- PNG images produce better quality - these are also images that you can add fonts, logos, & text to without losing the quality or having the image pixelate and blur.
- JPEG images are straight images. Sizes need to be exact to work.
- Images need to clearly represent your business brand.
- Images need to be either uniquely yours or have the appropriate copyright.
- Unique images rank higher in SEO value - it may be worth hiring a professional photographer for this alone. If you’re one of three boutiques in the same square mile radius, great images could be the one thing that sets your business apart and brings in more customers.
- Don’t use your logo as an image. Create great images then add your logo. (Don’t know how to do this? Don’t worry, we have the resources to do this for you.)
- Large images need to be at least 1200 px wide. Make sure you read up on what Google recommends as far as image size.
- Give all your images custom image file names. Don’t upload, IMG_00001.jpg. You are missing out on valuable SEO opportunities. Also, don’t name all your photos your business name with a number. Be descriptive of location, action, service, or product.
- Alt text tags are the same, be descriptive and brand your images with text.
If taking photos and getting the right type of images uploaded intimidates you, hire a professional photographer to help you. It will be worth the cost to help your business with new potential growth.
GOOGLE REVIEWS MATTER
Asking clients or customers to leave a review on your Google My Business page is another important step of developing your online presence. Reviews are one of the most important aspects of building a good reputation online and it is also hugely important for SEO - Search Engine Optimization.
There are several third-party apps that can help facilitate reviews. They plug into your customer management system to text or email your clients/patients after the service or appointment inquiring for a review. Be very careful with when working with third-party apps. You want to make sure they are reputable and following Google's rules and guidelines. We have heard of some businesses being pulled from Google because they or the app they were using was not following the rules. The apps that we use and recommend are in compliance with Google's guidelines and do not have these troubles.
Between excellent images and reviews, your business reach could expand quickly.
Make sure that you stick within Google’s best practice guidelines for getting reviews > Manage My Reviews.
- Create a unique link to give to customers for leaving reviews.
- Reply to reviews to build trust.
- Offering money, discounts, gifts, or other rewards for reviews is prohibited.
In other words, you can’t bribe clients or customers to leave you a good review but you can make it easy for everyone to leave an honest, unbiased review.
Setting up your Google My Business page is the first step and you can learn how to do that by following this link > How to Set Up My Google Business Page.
Here are 5 Reasons Why Getting Reviews are Important
- Increase Your Business's Exposure: Both to local and non-local markets. About 9% of Google's search algorithm is driven by reviews. That means increasing your revenue by about as much.
- Improves Visits to Your Website: Having Google reviews is an excellent way to increase traffic to your website. Curious people want to know more.
- Free Marketing: Have you heard that old adage, Word of mouth is the best form of advertising. This is how it works now. Make sure your website is super easy to access and it has everything potential customers need at their fingertips.
- Provides Honest Feedback: If you're not looking for new ways to change or improve your business, the fact is you will probably not grow. Instead of looking at reviews in a negative light, use them to improve your products or services.
- Creates Brand Trust: There's no better way to create trust between your brand and clients or customers. Having honest reviews creates a place for open communication. When people feel that they are being heard, they tend to trust that source more.
If you want to set up a Google My Business Page but are overwhelmed with it all, feel free to contact us. You're not alone in growing your business.
Our passion is helping business owners be successful! We here to help you!
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